A detailed meeting of Sahkar Bharti was held in Supaul district with the participation of district office-bearers, block representatives, cooperative committee members, women from self-help groups, and a large number of workers. The meeting focused on strengthening the cooperative movement at the grassroots level, promoting self-employment, and preparing a concrete strategy to make youth self-reliant.
The meeting began with a discussion on the organisation’s objectives and the core principles of cooperatives. Speakers stated that the fundamental principle of cooperation is “for all, by all,” which promotes collective development and social harmony. They said that at a time when employment opportunities are becoming limited, the cooperative model can serve as a medium of economic empowerment in rural and semi-urban areas.
Discussions were held on various sectors of self-employment, including agriculture-based industries, dairy, fisheries, beekeeping, mushroom production, handicrafts, horticulture, and small cottage industries. Experts stated that better income can be generated at low cost through proper utilisation of local resources. They said cooperative committees should be provided with technical training, banking support, and direct market access.
Speakers said that youth often do not receive complete information about government schemes and financial assistance programmes, resulting in them being deprived of benefits. Sahkar Bharti will conduct awareness campaigns at the panchayat level to provide information about schemes and assist in the application process. A proposal was also presented to organise self-employment guidance camps in each block.
Women’s empowerment was also a key focus of the meeting. Women from self-help groups shared their experiences of starting small businesses through collective efforts and improving their families’ economic conditions. Organisational leaders said that the cooperative movement is incomplete without the participation of women and that special attention will be given to providing them with training, loan facilities, and marketing support.
It was decided to further strengthen the organisational structure by appointing active members in each panchayat to monitor cooperative activities at the local level. Discussions were also held on the possibility of online sales of products through digital platforms to provide wider market access to local products.
Speakers said cooperation is not only a means of economic progress but also a symbol of social unity. They stated that collective efforts can help reduce migration from villages and create employment opportunities at the local level.
At the conclusion of the meeting, members resolved to take the cooperative movement to new heights and connect more youth, farmers, and women to it. The organisation also announced that district-level conferences and training programmes will be organised in the coming months.
The detailed meeting held in Supaul was described as an initiative towards economic self-reliance in the district, with proposed plans aimed at creating new self-employment opportunities and promoting overall development through cooperation.
